Active Aging April 2024

JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL TOUR OF HOMES!

May 10th at 2:00 PM

Join us for this free event and explore the homes at our Continuing Care Retirement Community, our 96-acre campus, and the amenities that make life at RiverMead so unique. Registration is required.

I was looking for love. What I found was a scam.

AARP Fraud Watch Network® helps you recognize romance scams, so your money, health and happiness live longer.

The younger you are, the more you need AARP.

Learn more at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.

By KELLY COOKE

hit the road? Some

Areyoulookingaheadandmakingtravelplans forthisfallornextyear?Planningatripand tryingtodecidewheretogoandwhattodo?Are youreadytopackyourbagsandsetoutonnew adventuresthisyear?

It’s a new age!

If40isthenew30,70isthenew50!Today’s seniorsaremoreactive,moreadventurousand aresavvierwhenitcomestotravel.Therearea lotofdifferencesbetweentourcompanies,andit isimportanttochoosetheonethatisrightfor you.Don’tjustlookatthepriceandlengthofa tour.Therearealotoffactorstoconsiderwhen choosingtherightfitforyou–qualityofthe tour,paceofthetour,includedmealsandsightseeingandtheoverall“feel”ofthecompany.

Less ho-hum, more fun!

Fromyearsoftravelingontoursasapassenger andleadingmyowntours,Ihavelearnedthatif everyoneisonthesamemissiontohavefun–nothingisgoingtostopthem.Sometimeseven thebestplansdon’tpanoutasexpected–which meansthatthingsdon’talwaysgoasplanned.As thesayinggoes,“Iflifehandsyoulemons,make

lemonade”…well,wefeellikehavingtherightattitudeequatestobringingacupofsugarto sweetenupthelemonade!Afterall,lifeisanadventure!

What’s the real cost?

Lookingatthebrochurepriceisn’talwaysa clearpictureofthecostofatrip–makesureyou understandthedifferencebetweenprice,overall costandvalue.Howmanymealsareincluded? Arealloftheactivitiesincludedorwillyoube

Let Granite VNA help start the conversation about end-of-life wishes. We’ll have a Social Worker/Notary Public available to support any adult, at any age or stage of health, through the advance care planning process.

diggingintoyourpocketeverytimeyouhopoff thebus?

Takeacloselookatwhatisincludedinthe priceofthetour–alowerpriceonthebrochure doesn’talwaysmeanlowercosttoyou.

Final thoughts

Attheendoftheday,travelingisaverypersonalexperience.

Travelingwithagrouphasalwaysbeenagreat optionforme–Ilovethecamaraderiethat comeswithtravelingwithagroupofstrangers thatbecomefriends;Ilovesharingtheexperiencesalongthewaywithfellowtravelers;andI lovesittingdownattheendofthedayand sharingstoriesofouradventures.Mypassionfor grouptravelhashelpedmecreateanewkindof travel–agrouptourwhereafteryoutakethat “firststep”andgetonthebus,youareinfora fun-filledadventure,notsomestuffyoldbus tour.

KellyCookeistheOwnerofTerrapinTours,loves travelingandhas25+yearsofexperienceinthe travelindustry.YoucanlearnmoreaboutTerrapin Toursandtheexcitingplaceswewillbevisitingin 2024onourwebsitewww.TerrapinTours.comorby calling603-348-7141.

The importance of staying calm

Sounds and colors of nature have been shown to foster relaxed state of mind

Becalm,tostayactive.

Thismightsoundconfusingorevenlikeacontradiction,butlet’sdigintowhatitmeansaswe age,tobehealthyandabletobeactive.

Whenwe’recalm,weareinahealthyframeof mind,whichisalsoidealforourbodiestorestore,renewandevenhealfaster andreducethedamagestress caninstigateonoursystems.

CRIS BLACKSTONE

Beingcalm,withthisfocuson thedefinition,meanswearen’t ruminatingonproblems,anxiouslywaitingforwhat’snexton ourgrowingto-dolistsorbeing lostinthinkingaboutpastproblems.

Anticipatingfutureproblems meanswe’retakingtimefrombeinginthemoment.And,yes,anticipatingafutureproblem canbereframedbycallingthat“solvingafuture situationIseefacingme.”That’smoreconstructiveandatopicforfutureresearch!

What’sinourimmediateenvironmentcan holdtheansweronhowfindacalminginfluence –whichwillhavepositiveeffectssuchasreduce

inflammation,lowerbloodpressureandallow moreclearthinking.Thistypeofcalminginfluenceiscalled“softfascination.”Softfascination isfindingsomethingthatholdsourattentionbut allowsustoreplenishourbodyanditsown healingmechanisms.

Takingawalksurroundedbynatureisanexampleofwhereyoucanfindsoftfascination, whilewatchingatelevisionshow(whethera streamingfeatureyouarewrappedupinora trustystandbyonastandardbroadcastchannel) isanexampleofanactivitywhichrequiresmore processingbyourbrains,distractingfromthe inputofthecalmingeffectsofbeingabsorbedin thenaturalworld.

Yourquestionatthispointcanrightfullybe,“I havenoaccesstoatrailtomakeanaturehike,” or,“It’stoocoldoutside,andIdon’thave clothingadequatetobeoutdoorsforlong.”You mightbesurprisedtolearnthatresearchhas shownthecalming,restorativeeffectsofthenaturalworldcanbeinfusedinyourdailyroutine eventhroughobservingindoorplantsoreven fauxflowers!

TheworkofKarenHuggisgearedtowardthis

research,andherexplanationsarereadilyunderstood.Herbook,“LeafYourTroublesBehind:HowtoDestressandGrowHappiness ThroughPlants,”isamust-readforpeopleinterestedinhowplantscanbebeneficialinourlives. FromtheviewpointsofavidgardenersinNew Hampshire,thisisanobviousnotion,while thosewhodon’tgardenmightseeplantsascreatingdrudgery.

Butconsidertheresearchindicatinghowthe colorgreeniscalmingbecauseitsshorterwavelengthsdon’tneedoureyestouseanyenergyto adjusttoseeingit.Thecolorgreen,formost people,makesusthinkofthenaturalworld–so wecenterandfocusonlessexternalstimulation. Herbalconcoctionshavelongbeenknownto helphealandcurecertainmaladiesordisorders, indicatingevenmorethatplantscanoffer.

Foronemoreangletounderstandtheresearch abouttheconnectionsbetweenacalmframeof mindandrestorativebenefits,considertheresearchofAvikBasuandJasonDuvall.Intheirarticle(alongwithotherco-authors)“Attention RestorationTheory:ExploringtheRoleofSoft FascinationandMentalBandwidth,”intheEnvi-

Whether you're considering downsizing, aging in place, or exploring other housing options, our seminar will provide valuable insights to help you make informed decisions.

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ronmentalPsychologyjournalfromMay16, 2018,AttentionRestorationTheoryisoutlined anddefined.

Thisarticle,alongwithotherpublicationsby thoseauthors,helpedsetthestageformany medicalpractitionerswhonowprescribe–yes prescribe–connectiontimefortheirpatientsto dedicatetoabsorbingnature!Theyacknowledge howmanyofushavepreciouslittleconnection withelementsofnatureandhowplantsandthe soundsofnaturecancalmusdownandallowus torenewandrecharge,withwhatisknown aboutsoftfascination.

Bringingupthesoundsofnature,alongwith benefitsofseeingplantsorbeingoutdoors,isanotherangletoconsiderabouthowbeingcalmallowsustostaymoreactive.Thecurrenttrend aboutnatureconnectionstoourhealthincludes understandingsongbirds’abilitytohelpus. Whetherinreallifeinyourownbackyardor surroundedbynatureinanenvironmentyou canvisit,hearingsongbirdshasbeenshownto loweranxietyandreduceinnateparanoia. Trafficnoisehastheoppositeeffectinseveral researchprojects.

Thebirdsongstapanancientreaction,where wesensedifbirdswerecalmandchirpinghap-

Bringing

pily,therewasnoimminentdangerorpredators.

Justasit’sbeenproventhatseeingplantsand flowers,whetherindoors,outdoorsoreven “fake”triggerscalmsensations,hearingrecordingsofbirdsongscanhavethesamepositivereactionsonourmindsets.Whenwehearrecordingsofthesongs,breathbecomesmoreregular andwehaveliberatedpartsofourmindsforrelaxationandminimizingcortisolrelease.

Sohowdotheseideas,factsandresearch weaveintoourdailylivestohelpusstaycalm andthereforebeabletobemoreactive?Byreducinginflammationandtheachesandpainswe mayhaveascribedto“justgettingolder,”wecan feelmorelimberandenjoywalksoutsideor tasksinourgardensorlearningfirsthandwhat thepickleballcrazeisallabout!

Itcantakepractice,buttakesometimetosit inalawnchairorsetyourselfupcomfortably andlookoutawindowforafewminuteseach day.Workyourwayuptomakingthisahabit, andtry10minutesadayasaprescriptionfor whatyouneedtoaccomplishthatdayorthink backonwhatyoudidaccomplishorenjoythat day.

Whenyouseeorhearabirdonabranchorin abushyoumayhavezeroedinon,makethatthe

centerofyourthoughts.Chancesaregoodthat onceyouhearonebird,youwillhearanother–ofthesametypeorofadifferenttypeinresponsetothefirst.

Ifyoucan’taccessthenaturalenvironmentso easily,thenwedohaveanabilityinourhands, withoursmartphones.CheckouttheworldrenownedCornellLabofOrnithology’swebsite, birds.cornell.edu,orexploreitsapp.Thereyou canhearbirdsongstopracticewithandseehow youfeelwiththistypeofpracticaltherapy.

Onceyoufindyourselfgettinginvolvedwith AttentionRestorationTherapyorsoftfascination,youmightenjoytheabilityyou’llhaveto recordbirdsongsyouhearwiththeapp’sability toidentifythebirdbyitssong.

Researchindicatesthatovertime,yourday willhaveabetterflowtoit,yourbody’sown healingmechanismswillkickinandyouwillfeel morecalmandabletoaccomplishmorewith moreenergythanyoumayhavehadintherecentpast.Beingcalmwillleadtoamoreactive lifestyle!

CrisBlackstoneisaNewHampshire-certified landscapeprofessionalandaUNHCooperative ExtensionNaturalResourcesSteward.

up the sounds of nature, along with benefits of seeing plants or being outdoors, is another angle to consider about how being calm allows us to stay more active.

Aging in Place at Home, with Extra Peace of Mind

• Does the dishwasher or computer break, and you don’t know where to turn?

• Are you finding it more difficult to do little (and big) tasks around the home?

• Would your life be easier if your groceries were delivered to you, or you got a ride to the doctor’s office?

If so, Monadnock at Home is here to help!

Join us for a free informational session for older adults (age 62+) who live independently at home but could use assistance around the home or are seeking stronger community connections.

Wednesday, May 22, 11 a.m.

Peterborough Public Library

Space is limited – register now!

monadnockathome.org/info2405 or call 603-371-0809

breaking myths

Addressing ageism in the workplace

Assumptions are guesses we begin to believe

By GERRI KING

Forcontext:Institutionalageismreferstoa cultureperpetuatingageismthroughitsactionsandpolicies.Interpersonalageism referstosocialinteractions.Internalizedageism iswhenpeoplehaveageistbeliefsthatareappliedtothemselves.

Generalizingaboutolder peopleisnodifferentthan generalizingaboutrace, ethnicityandgender. Thankfully,wehavebecomemoreawareofthose other“isms,”butageismis somehowstillaccepted,expectedandcondoned,evenbypeoplewhofall intotheolderagecategory.

Thereare,ofcourse,plentyofexceptionsto thestereotype.However,callingthem“exceptions”impliesthatthey’retrue,exceptunder certaincircumstances.

Whenconsultingtoorganizations,Iurgeem-

ployeesofdifferentagesto“useeachother”in thebestsenseoftheterm.Ofcourse,notallnew employeesareyoungandnotallveteransareold. Yet,itisnotuncommonformosttofitwithin thoseagecategories.

Iworkedwithacompany(notontheEast Coast,sodon’ttrytoguesswhoitis)where peoplewerehopingalong-timeemployeewould leave.Hedidannouncehisretirement,andmany weredelighted.Noticingthatreaction,theleadershipteamdecidedtohavehimdevotehislast threemonthsoftenuretosharinginstitutional wisdom.

Hehadnoideahowmuchheknewbecauseit wassoembeddedinhisexperience.Oncehe starteddoingthat,peoplewerehangingonevery word,eventuallybegginghimnottoretire.They nowaskallretireestodevotethelastthree monthsoftenuretosharingaccumulatedknowledge:theirexperiencesandwhatworkedinthe pastandwhatdidn’t.

Are the following facts or myths?

Olderpeoplecan’tlearnnewthingsorways. Really?Youdon’tknowanyoneinthatgroup whousesacomputer,hasacellphone,drivesa newcar,hastriedanewrecipe,learnedanew

Where caring is a way of life...

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• Fitness center, Library, Café, Auditorium, and other amenities onsite

• Onsite Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy available

• Spacious private apartments

• Transportation to medical appointments

Call us today to schedule your tour at Scott-Farrar.

skillortransitionedtoadifferentlivingsituation?

Theyareresistanttochange.Well,justabout everyoneisreluctantatsomelevelbecausewith everychange,thereisatrade-off.Evenpositive changemeansgivingupwhatisfamiliarand comfortable.Toreferencetheworkplaceagain,I hearthat“newpeoplearen’thavingtroublewith thechanges.”Theydidn’tdoittheoldway!Orat leastnotforverylong.

You’reasoldasyoufeel.Talkaboutinstilling guilt!Doesthatmeanifyouhaveanache,you broughtitonbecauseyourleftlegfeltold?I’ve seenalotofyoungpeoplestruggling.Intheir case,weassumeit’stheresultofanaccident.

Olderfolksaren’tvaluabletosociety.Ifthat’s true,let’seliminateallhistoryclasses.Welearn fromwhathappenedinthepast.Whobetterto informusthanthosewholivedthroughit,especiallyifwedon’twanttorepeathistoricalnegatives?

They’velostasenseofpurpose.Isthattrueor aretheylistenedtoless?

Get beyond assumptions

Beyondacertainage,peoplearecreditedwith beingwarmandnicebutperceivedaslesscom-

petent.Ifthey’renotkind,theyfallintothecategoryof“grumpyoldperson.”Actually,it’sstill usuallydescribedas“grumpyoldmen.”Women aresometimessoignoredthatthey’renoteven describedasbeingcantankerous.

Nevercounteringwhatanolderpersonsaysis consideredrespectful.It’sactuallydismissive. Whendebatingsomeone,you’reatleastacknowledgingthem.

Olderpeopleareassumedtobesexuallyinactive.Thenagain,despitethebeliefthatit’snow anacknowledgedtopic,noonewantstoknow thataboutanyone,certainlynotabouttheir grandparents.

Beyond a certain age, if people are not kind, they fall into the category of “grumpy old person.” Actually, it’s still usually described as “ grumpy old men.” Women are sometimes so ignored that they’re not even described as being cantankerous.

Theyshouldworkveryhardatappearing young.Ioncetalkedwithawomanwhowasbaf-

• Help your neighbors with transportation to non-emergency medical and support services.

• Drive when you want, as often as you want.

•Mileage reimbursement is available.

• CVTC provides “nofee” transportation to non-emergency medical and support services through

fledthat(mostlyfemales)areencouragedtoact orsaythey’re10yearsyounger.Shetellspeople she’s10yearsolder.Herwords:“IfI’m65and sayI’m55,peoplethink,‘Wow!Shedoesn’tlook good.”IfI’m65andsayI’m75,theresponseis, ‘Youlookterrific!’”

Theolderyouare,thelessyoucancontribute tosociety.Ifwedon’tinvitetheircontributions, we’reindeepshit.Whoops!Wasthatnotappropriateorshouldthatstatementonlybereserved foryoungerpeople?

GerriKing,PhD,isasocialpsychologistandorganizationalconsultantfromConcord.

Another year, another challenge

John Burke celebrated his 81st birthday with his 81st straight day hiking up Pack Monadnock - now 82, he has new goals in mind

By ASHLEY SAARI MonadnockLedger-Transcript

OnMarch29,JohnBurkeofPeterboroughmarkedhis82ndbirthday.

Now,hewillhavetocomeupwitha waytotoplastyear,whenhechallenged himselftocelebratehis81stbirthdayby hikingupPackMonadnockinPeterborougheverydayfor81daysstraight.

“Iwantedtodosomething,inmyown mind,tocelebrate,”Burkesaid.

Burkehasalwayslikedbeingoutdoors, andMillerStatePark,wherehebeganhis dailyhikes,hadaspecialplaceinhis heart,asheworkedtherepart-timeasa parkrangerwhileinhighschool.Hesaid itwasalreadyafavoriteofhis,withaccesstobothwoodtrailsandapavedvehicleaccessupthemountain.

Despite2023beingtherainiest summeronrecord,Burkesaidhewasde-

John Burke, left, receives a shirt with the number “81” to mark his 81st consecutive day hiking Pack Monadnock, for his 81st birthday.

EDUCATION FIRST - RETAIL SECOND

Since opening their CBD store at 211 Loudon road, Concord NH , Rick & Laurie Smith have been nominated BEST CBD STORE 3 consecutive times by their loyal customers thru the Concord Monitor as well as the Union Leader. They attribute it to putting Education First and Retail Second. Smith says he was totally shocked at the need for a more natural alternative to common ailments such as pain, sleep, and anxiety. “In the world we live in today, it’s no wonder that more and more people are suffering from anxiety and sleep deprivation “the truth of the matter is people are stressed out and that sometimes can lead to poor sleep and even increased inflammation in the body. The response from the community has been outstanding and we truly appreciate each and every customer in the last 5 years. When a new customer comes in we first like to listen to what brought them in and try and get a true understanding of the underlying issues. Next we always offer free samples and education of how CBD works in our body and the potential benefits. Then we explain what products we have available and the difference between each one as well as the various applications. We always maintain a “No Pressure” atmosphere where education always comes first and I feel people appreciate that. Our Theory from day one, has been to treat each customer as they were family and to try our hardest to help them the best we can with whatever resources we have available to us. If we are successful in doing that then we know they will re-

turn. We truly do care about our customers.

When asked about what separates SunMed products from other brands? Smith replies, well first of all, you have to be careful out there, not all CBD is the same. We believe in quality and transparency from soil to oil. That’s why every one of our products come with a scannable QR code with a specific lot number that links thirdparty lab reports. Our Stringent quality control process ensures our products deliver the best possible results for you and your family. I Think in the last 5 years we’ve been able to leave a positive mark in the community. Most new customers come to us with the understanding that you can’t stay in business for 5+ years (through a pandemic) unless you have superior products that are effective and helping people. Rick and Laurie invite you to stop by YOUR CBD STORE located at 211 Loudon Rd @ Courtyard Square TueSat 10-6. Come on in and get educated, get some free samples and enter our Free 100$ Store Drawing.

WHAT IS CBD?

CBD, scientifically known as

cannabidiol, is a naturally-occurring compound found in the resinous flower and leaves of the hemp plant. Dating back thousands of years, this plant compound has been used as a natural wellness supplement for various mental and physical needs. CBD is the best- researched Cannabinoid, with its list of restorative wellness benefits constantly expanding. CBD and other plant compounds interact with the receptors in our Endocannabinoid System (ECS) known to be the largest system of receptors in mammals. This system places a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes. Essentially, Cannabinoids are crucial to how we (and our pets) experience everyday life.

WHAT IS CBG ?

The mother of all Cannabinoidscannabigerol (CBG) is the precursor for THC AND CBD in hemp plants. Without the production of CBGA (the acidic form of CBG), there would be no Cannabinoids. Aside from this major fact, this minor Cannabinoid is studied individually for its stimulating invigorating, and mood-lifting properties. Now, some hemp plants are cultivated specifically for CBG production. Just as CBD is the first cannabinoid produced in the hemp plant,

it is best to utilize this cannabinoid first thing in the morning. We use a CBGA-rich formula in our favorite immune+ tincture and other daytime products.

WHAT IS CBN ?

Cannabinol (CBN), the first cannabinoid to be isolated by scientists, also begins as CBG, Through exposure to heat, air and light, the CBG then degrades to THC, and eventuallybecomes CBN. This naturally occurring “sleepy” cannabinoid takes much longer to produce than its mother cannabinoid, but is well worth the wait. Exciting research continues to emerge on CBN’s relaxing sedative effects on the ECS. Therefore, it is best to take this minor cannabinoid about an hour before your desired sleep time. We utilize CBN, lavender and valerian root in our plant -rich nighttime formulas.

terminednotto“cheat”byskipping anydays.

“Ionlygotcaughtintheheavyrain threetimes–andthere’splentyof treestostandunderuntiltherain passes,”Burkesaid.“Ienjoybeing there,evenwhenit’srainingor snowing.”

Burkesaidingood,dryweather, he’lltacklethewoodedtrails,buthe usuallyfollowsthetollroadasasafety measure.Hesaidhehasmetmany otherregularsonthetrails–oneofthe thingshelikesmostaboutthehobby. “Youmeetalotofnicepeoplewho goup,”hesaid.“Therearequiteafew peoplethatgouptherealmostevery day.”

Burketookonhischallengeinthe firsthalfofJune,andcompletediton thelastdayofAugust.Whenhefinishedhishikethatday,hewasgreeted atthePackMonadnockbasebypark workers,whohadarrangedasurprise

John Burkeof Peterboroughwas joined onsomeof hishikesupPack Monadnock by hisdaughter, Lynsey, and her dog, Berlioz.

forhim–ashirtwithajersey-style number“81”ontheback,tomark hisachievement.

Burke,whoisretiredfromacareerinsalesinthedairyindustry, saidaftercompletinghis81sthike, he’sstillaregularatthepark,andit’s hisgo-tohikingspotmultipletimes aweek.Hesaidheoccasionallywill branchout,climbingMountMonadnock,NorthPackMonadnockor goingforwalksinthebackwoodsof SharonoraroundWillardPond,but PackMonadnockandMillerState Parkremainhisfavorite,forconvenienceandknowledgeofthetrails.

Hesaidnowthathe’scelebrated his82ndbirthday,he’llhavetocome upwithanewwaytomarkhislatest triparoundthesun.Hesaiditlikely won’tbeaconsecutivechallenge againbutwilllikelyinvolveafitness goal,suchastakingacertainamount ofstepswithin82days.

“Ithinkit’sbeenbig,health-wise, forme,”Burkesaidofhishiking hobby.“It’salwaysfunwhenyou’re outdoors,doingsomething.”

Forthoseinterestedinpickingup hiking,Burkesaidhismainpieceof adviceittotakeitasslowasyou needtoandenjoythehikewhileit’s happening.

“Doitatapaceyoucanenjoy,” Burkeadvised.“Don’tbeinahurry togoupanddownandgosomewhereelse.Enjoythetime.Thefirst timeIwentup[PackMonadnock],it tookmeanhour.Now,it’smorelike halfanhour.Youcansetyourown goals,butdon’tforgettoenjoythe moment.”

AshleySaaricanbereachedat603924-7172,Ext.244,orasaari@ ledgertranscript.com.She’sonX@ AshleySaariMLT.

Our experienced attorneys help individuals, families and business owners achieve their wealth management goals and the preservation and transfer of assets to future generations. Through comprehensive estate planning and active interaction with our clients’ financial advisors, our attorneys identify needs and implement flexible strategies designed to fulfill our clients’ objectives. We regularly accept clients by referral.

JOHN BURKE

Views along PackMonadnock in Peterborough.

Jeanne S. Saffan

Stephanie

Thomson

Laura M. Dudziak

“It started out as a normal outing. My wife and I had to run to the grocery store. We were driving down the road casually going over our shopping list when the car ahead of me started to slow down anticipating the yellow light. I started to move my foot from the gas to the brake as any normal person would do when they see brake lights in front of them, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t feel my foot. The car kept moving forward and I just couldn’t get my foot on the brake and CRUNCH! I finally came to a stop when I hit the Car in front of me.”

This tragic story was shared with us by Mike S., a New Hampshire resident who has Peripheral Neuropathy. While no one was hurt in this accident, Mike S. had suffered almost every day of his life with tingling and burning in his feet until numbness set in, and he could no longer feel even the brake pedal beneath his foot.

“The first stage is pain.” Shares Dr. Kristen Markwith of Trend Acupuncture & Integrative

That’s where Dr. Markwith and her staff at Trend come in. “About 80% of our current patients come to us suffering from the same condition as Mike,” tells Dr. Markwith. “They’re in constant pain from neuropathy and it prevents them from not only living their lives but more importantly, it prevents them from enjoying it. Depending on the severity of their nerve damage, we typically see tremendous progress in 3-4 months of treatment. I like to say we’re in the business of making your golden years golden.”

“I can’t lie,” confides Mike. “I was skeptical at first. So many specialists told me there was nothing that could be done and then there’s a doctor right here in Concord tells me she can help. Turns out she was right! About three months after treatment I was able to confidently drive myself to my appointments! My wife and I celebrated by buying ourselves a new car. It’s hard to put into words how incredible this is, quite frankly [Dr. Kristen] gave me my life back.”

“SHE GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK.”

Local clinic has a modern, medical solution to treat your Peripheral Neuropathy And is seeing incredible results!

Medicine. “You feel burning, tingling, sharp pains, or you feel like you’re walking on tacks or marbles. This pain eventually subsides and the numbness sets in. Unfortunately, the numbness brings with it a whole other host of problems.”

This was the case with Mike. “I said I wasn’t going to drive again. What if that had been a pedestrian?”

It is terribly common that peripheral neuropathy and its debilitating symptoms interfere with a person’s ability to live their life. Mike was now reliant on his wife to drive him around, even the simple pleasure of cruising downtown or taking her to dinner was outside his capabilities. And even more common, Mike’s general practitioner and several specialists told him there was nothing they could do other than to prescribe him pills that would ease the pain of his neuropathy.

While Trend Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine specializes in acupuncture and it’s definitely part of their protocols in treating neuropathy, the real secret is in a more modern medical solution called ATP Resonance BioTherapy™. “This technology was originally developed by NASA to expedite healing and recovery,” shares Mikayla, Director of Patient Care at the clinic. “It’s like watering a plant. ATP Resonance BioTherapy™ stimulates the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerve and provide them the proper nutrients to heal and repair.”

If you’re ready to schedule a complimentary consultation, call (603) 456-8294 and a care coordinator will be happy to assist you.

You can learn more about Dr. Markwith and Trend by visiting www.trendacupuncture.com.

We blend the time-tested with innovative medical so you can

time-tested science of acupuncture solutions to treat your pain, LIVE your life.

Peripheral Neuropathy is the pain, discomfort and numbness caused by nerve damage of the peripheral nervous system. Dawn explained that daily tasks like opening doors and using the bathroom were overwhelmingly painful. “How can you live for the next 30 years when you don’t even want to get out of bed and do simple things?” She was experiencing the burning, numbness, tingling and sharp pains that those suffering with neuropathy often describe. “The way I would describe it, it’s equivalent to walking on glass.” Dawn hadn’t worn socks in five years and was wearing shoes two sizes too big so that nothing would ‘touch’ her feet. Unfortunately, Dawn’s story is all too familiar for the over 3 million people in the U.S. suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy.

Medicine in Concord, NH., is using the time tested science of Acupuncture and a technology originally developed by NASA that assists in increasing blood flow and expediting recovery and healing to treat the debilitating disease. “Now when I go to bed at night I don’t have those shooting pains. I don’t have that burning sensation. I don’t have pain coming up my legs,” Dawn enthusiastically describes life after receiving Dr. Kristen’s treatments. “I can wear socks and shoes!”

Dawn and her sister now operate a successful dog walking business, sometimes covering up to 5 miles a day.

“It’s life altering. As far as I’m concerned Dr. Kristen saved my life!”

Dr. Kristen Markwith has been helping the senior community for over 10 years using the most cutting edge innovative

“My feet and legs were extremely painful and my doctor told me there was nothing they could do. That I would have to take Gabapentin for the  rest of my life.”

“SHE SAVED  MY LIFE”

If you’re unfortunate enough to be facing the same disheartening prognosis, you’re not sleeping at night because of the burning in your feet. You have difficulty walking, shopping or doing any activity for more than 30 minutes because of the pain. You’re struggling with balance and living in fear that you might fall. Your doctor told you to, ‘just live with the pain’ and you’re taking medications that aren’t working or have uncomfortable side effects.

Fortunately, four months ago Dawn read an article about Dr. Kristen Markwith, Licensed Acupuncturist, and the work she was doing to treat those suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy, without invasive surgeries or medications.

Dr. Kristen Markwith, founder of Trend Acupuncture and Integrative

integrative medicine. Specializing in chronic pain cases, specifically those     that have been deemed ‘hopeless’ or ‘untreatable,’ she consistently generates unparalleled results.

What was once a missing link in senior healthcare is now easily accessible to the residents in and around Concord.

If you’ve missed too many tee times because of pain or you passed on going for a night out on the town because you are afraid of falling, it’s time to call Dr. Kristen Markwith and the staff at Trend.

It’s time you let your golden years be GOLDEN!

To schedule a complimentary consultation, please call (603) 456-8294, a patient care coordinator will be happy to assist you.

To learn more about Dr. Markwith and Trend Acupuncture, please visit us at www.trendacupuncture.com

Documents protect loved ones planning

Estate preparation is important, for you and those who will inherit your assets

By STEPHANIE J. THOMSON

Itisincrediblyimportanttohaveproperestate planningdocumentsinplacetoprotectyourself andyourassetsintheeventofyourincapacity, andsoyoucancontrolwhathappenstoyourassetsafteryoudie.

Butequallyimportantishavingtherightdocumentsinplaceforwhileyouarestillliving.If youbecomeincapacitated,whoisgoingtomake decisionsonyourbehalformanageyourfinances?

Thefollowingaretwodocumentsthatcan greatlyimpactyouranswersandshouldbediscussedwithyourestateplanningattorney,your financialadviserand/oryourdoctor.

Generaldurablepowerofattorney

Adurablegeneralpowerofattorneynamesan individualtoactforyouintheeventofyourincapacity.Thispersonisknownasan“agent.”Itis

importanttonotethatthistypeofpowerofattorneycanbevalidupononsigningorupon yourincapacity.Additionally,theword “durable”impliesthatthisdocumentisvalid untilyoueitherrevokeitorpassaway.

Finally,whilethisdocumentoftencontains broadpowers,sothatyouragenthastheability toactonyourbehalfinalmostanysituation,itis importanttonotethatthisdocumentdoesnot typicallyallowyouragenttoactwithregardsto anyassetsheldinatrust(ifyouhaveone).Instead,atrusteewoulddealwithalltrustassets. Insomecases,theagentandtrusteearethesame person,buttheyarenotrequiredtobe.

Advancedirectiveforhealthcare (durablepowerofattorneyforhealthcare andlivingwill)

Anadvancedirectivenamessomeonetomake healthcaredecisionsonyourbehalfifyouare unabletodosoyourselfandtoallowapersonto

diewithdignityandnotbekeptalivebyamachineundercertainconditions.

Whilethisdocumentallowsyoutochoose whomakesthesedecisionsandalsodictatewhat typeofcareyouwantinspecificsituations,this documentisnotaDNR(DoNotResuscitate order),whichcanonlybecompletedbyyour doctor.

Additionally,itimportanttonotethattheNew HampshireLegislaturemostrecentlyupdated thesedocumentsin2021.Thatdoesnotinvalidateapreviouslyexecutedadvancehealthcare directive,butitisalwaysrecommendedtohave themostcurrentversion.Assuch,youmaywant todiscussupdatingthesedocumentswithyour estateplanningattorneyordoctor’soffice.

StephanieJ.Thomsonisanattorneyfocusingon estateplanning,probate,businessrepresentation andresidentialandcommercialrealestatetransactionsatUpton&HatfieldinPeterborough.

An advance directive names someone to make health care decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself and to allow a person to die with dignity and not be kept alive by a machine under certain conditions.

“This is the community I’ve been waiting for.”

We broke the mold when we broke ground. And now The Baldwin is open and introducing a fresh, new perspective to senior living. This all-new community for modern seniors incorporates cutting-edge knowledge about what it means to live well and age well — with services and amenities that bring more convenience and more fun to life. No sequestering here, The Baldwin is a walkable, intergenerational environment designed to keep you active and fully engaged in life. We invite you to check it out and see if The Baldwin is the community you’ve been waiting for, too.

The Baldwin is now open!

A limited number of brand-new apartment homes are available and shown by appointment. To learn more and schedule a tour, call 603.699.0840 or go to TheBaldwinNH.org.

Choosing an executor or trustee

By L. PHILLIPS RUNYON III

Ifyou’vemadeawillorcreatedarevocable trusttoorganizeyouraffairs,Iapplaudyou. You’reaheadofabout50%ofyourfellowcitizens.

Still,keepinmindthatsomeofthemostimportantbutoftenpoorlyconsideredestateplanningdecisionsarethoseaboutwhotodesignate tomakeheadsortailsoutofyourfinalestate/trustwishesandtoworkonthoseissues withtherestofyourfamilymembers.AndI knowthatbecausewe’vejustexperienceda coupleof“unfortunate”choicesforthosecritical rolesthathavemadetheestateandtrustadministrationprocessforthosefamilies“unpleasant,” shallIsay.

Youmaybethinkingthattheworstchoicefor importantjobslikeexecutorortrusteewouldbe thechildofdecedentparentswhohasverylittle businessorfinancialexperienceandcouldn’ttell agooddecisionfromabadone.Conversely,you mayalsobethinkingthatthebestchoicewould bethechildwho’salawyerorinvestmentadviserandworksinthelegalorfinancialarenafor

aliving.Sorrytosay–especiallyaboutlawyers–butthatthinkingisoftentherootofadisaster ahead.

Andwhenyoureallythinkaboutit,thereason issimple.That’sbecauseveryfewofthesesituationsrequirethelegalorfinancialacumenyou’re countingonyourmostbrilliantchild,brotheror niecetobringtobear.Whatyouneedinsteadof theknow-it-alls,whomayhavegottenwhere theyareintheirpersonalorprofessionallives throughaggressive,take-charge,evenarrogant

MOs,arethoseraresoulswhocangetalongwith alltheplayers,whoarefairandreasonableand whomeveryoneelsetrustsandrespects.

Theycanhirethelawyersandfinancialwizardsiftheyneedthem,buttheyaren’tnearlyas likelytoneedthemaswheneveryonefeels they’rebeingtakenadvantageof,bullied, cheatedorliedto–andeveryonefeelstheneed tolawyeruptoprotectthemselves.

So,lookedatfromthisperspective,youmay wanttomakeanentirelydifferentchoicefor yourexecutorortrusteethanyoufirstthought. Thesituationsthatpromptedthislamentcertainlywouldhavebeenbetterservedbythis counterintuitiveapproach,aswouldthewell-intentionedparentswhowouldhaveavoided rollingoverintheirwherevers.

Here’sasuggestionabouthowtotesttheapproachI’mrecommending.Haveafamily meetingwhereyoutalkabouttheconsiderations I’madvancing.Assembleyourcandidatesand raisetheissuesamongthem.Tellthemhow you’rehopingtheprocesswillgo.

Don’tbeswayedbywho’stheeldest,bywho

69% of seniors will need some sort of long-term care.

What’s your plan to pay for it?

• Could I lose my home and life savings to a nursing-home stay?

• What if my adult child divorces or dies?

• What if my adult child is battling creditors/addiction and inherits my estate?

If these, or questions like them, are keeping you up at night, don’t miss this powerful educational session with key steps you can take to create a lasting legacy. Planning early is critical.

Tuesday, May 14, 1:00-2:30 PM Hooksett Public Library, 31 Mount St. Mary’s Way, Hooksett

Wednesday, May 15, 1:00-3:00 PM Grappone Conference Center, 70 Constitution Ave., Concord

Wednesday, May 22, 6:00-7:30 PM Hooksett Public Library, 31 Mount St. Mary’s Way, Hooksett

Thursday, May 23, 1:00-3:00 PM Nashua Senior Center, 70 Temple St., Nashua

Tuesday, June 18, 10:00-11:30 AM Hudson Senior Center, 19 Kimball Hill Rd., Hudson

To register, go to docrlaw.com/seminars/ or call 1-800-370-5010

Check our website for additional seminars being offered throughout the state.

ESTATE, TAX & E LDER LAW ATTORNEYS

Concord, Bedford, Nashua, Exeter (NH) and North Andover (MA) www.docrlaw.com

* Legal Only.

Attorney Edward Beasley

Attorney Advertising Special Guest: Greg Gagne, ChFC

hastheJDorMBAorbywhoseems tobethetake-chargetype.And don’tcopoutbynamingeveryone toserveasco-executorsorcotrustees,atleastunlessyouroffspringaremorelikelytohaveeach other’sbacksthantoengagein powerplays.Anyotherco-sibling scenarioisjustkickingthecan downtheroadandsettingthemall upforpotentialconflict.Ofcourse, yourlifehistorywiththemwill countforalot,andthewaythey handlethemselvesduringthe familydiscussionwillalsoberevealing.

Then,inordertoavoidanawkwardconclusiontothemeeting, don’ttellthemwhatyou’vedecided.Youdon’twanttocreateconflictorhardfeelingsthatmayaffect theirownrelationships–ortheirs withyou–beforethetimecomes, andifyoutellthemandthenchange yourmind,thatcanaddthepotentialforseriousdiscord.

Instead,onceyoumakeupyour mind,composeathoughtfulside lettertoexplainyourthinking.You maybeabletosoftenachild’sdisappointmentbyexplainingthatone seemedtoobusytotakeonthead-

ditionalresponsibilitiesorlivedtoo farfromhometodevotethehandsontimetocompletetheworkefficiently.You’llknowwhattosayand howtodoitdiplomatically,inthe interestsofpreservingfamilyharmonyonceyou’renottheretobe thepeacemaker.Andthat’sgoalNo. 1,inmyhumbleopinion.

Onefinaltidbitisnottohavethis kindofmeetingwhenyou’reall gatheredforaholidaycelebration. Thosearesupposedtobejoyousoccasions,andtheyhavetheirown stresses.Plus,youdon’twant someonetoassociateturkeyorbarbecuewithchallengingconversationsanddecidenottocomeback nextyear.

Look,Iknowthiscanbeadifficultprocess,butsoisalotofparenting.Andifyou’reachildwho’s readingthismessagewithyourparents,rememberthatthisistheirdecisionandrespectthembybeing theteamplayeryouknowisthe rightwaytohonorthem.

L.PhillipsRunyonIIIhaspracticed estateandtrustlawinPeterborough forthepast50years.Hewasalsopresidingjusticeofthe8thCircuitCourt for27years.

Your favorite blanket: time-tested, cozy, and a great place to be. Sounds just like our community. Please call for more information. Then prepare for warmth and comfort all year round. Since Ameriprise Financial was founded back in 1894, we have been committed to putting clients first. Helping generations plan for the expected and unexpected. As Ameriprise financial advisors, we remain true to our vision of always putting clients’ needs first. Discover how you can benefit from the strength of a global leader and the heart of a one-to-one relationship.

Benefits of enrichment learning

OLLI at University of New Hampshire offers classes of all types and varieties

By TORI BERUBE

OLLIattheUniversityofNewHampshire (OLLIatUNH)standsasanengaging,memberdriveneducationalinitiativetailoredforindividualsaged50andover,fosteringaspiritof “learningforthefunofit.”

Rootedinvolunteerism,thislifelonglearning programoffersadiversearrayofover300 coursesannually,extendingbeyondtheclassroomtoencompassevents,trips,socialactivities andvolunteeropportunities,allaimedatenrichingtheexperiencesofitsmembers.

Sinceitsinceptionin2004,OLLIatUNHhas beenacatalystforintellectual,socialandculturalenrichment.Ithascultivatedanenvironmentwherefriendshipsflourish,andideasand lifeexperiencesaresharedmutually.Theadvantagesoflifelonglearningforolderadultsare manifold,rangingfromheightenedsocialconnectednesstoimprovedcognitiveandphysical healthalongwithareducedriskofdementia.

ThecourseofferingsatOLLIatUNHvary eachterm,spanningartsandhumanities,history,personalenrichment,scienceandtechnologyandsocialsciences.Thesecoursesare

30coursesintheConcordarea.Amongtheseofferingsaretitlessuchas“Spies,Lies,&Sunken Ships,”“OldNorthCemeteryWalk&Talk,” “LewisHayden:FugitiveSlave,Underground RailroadLeader,StateLegislator,”“Tourof FranklinFallsDam&Lighthouse,”and“Shakespeare’sMuchAdoAboutNothing:What’sItAll About?”

TheOLLIexperienceextendsbeyondformal courseswiththeinclusionofSpecialInterest Groups(SIGs),offeringanadditionalbenefitto members.TheseSIGsprovideaplatformfor like-mindedindividualstogatherregularly, whetheritbeforbookandmovieclubs,craft groups,oroutdoorandcommunityadventures.

conductedinperson,eitherinaclassroom,atan offsitehostfacilityoramidstthepicturesque landscapesofNewHampshire.Additionally,a selectionofcoursesisavailableonlineviaZoom, accommodatingdiversepreferencesandschedules,spanningfromsingle-classsessionsto multi-classprograms.

Duringourspring2024semester,OLLIat UNHispresentingacaptivatinglineupofover

AnannualmembershiptojoinOLLIatUNHis pricedat$40,withcourseregistrationfees startingat$20.OLLIatUNHispartofabroader network,beingoneof125OsherInstitutesaffiliatedwithcollegesanduniversitiesnationwide, allpartiallysupportedbyfundingfromthe BernardOsherFoundation.

Formoredetails,pleasevisitunh.edu/OLLIor contact(603)255-3553.

ToriBerubeistheprogrammanagerforOLLI.

COURTESY

Noted OLLI at UNH presenter Dave Hess discussing the presidential primary season last February.

Despite leading all health care sectors in wage increases, and offering the nation's best care, New Hampshire nursing homes seeking to hire staff are held back by unregulated out-of-state staffing agency price-gouging, and delays in finalizing Medicaid applications. And they're further threatened by an unfunded one-size-fits-all federal staffing mandate that would close facilities and deny care access to frail Granite Staters, especially in rural areas.

For more information, see savenhseniors.com

Call 1-800-457-6833 to schedule a tour or visit hhhinfo.com to learn more!

Havenwood Heritage Heights is a vibrant, friendly and unpretentious community on two campuses filled with resort-style amenities. Here, you’ll find an appealing selection of maintenance–free homes, including nine new cottages. The community offers an outdoor sports complex, fitness centers, indoor and outdoor pools, movie theater, Main Street and a variety of dining options.

This continuing care retirement community offers accommodations for assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation and skilled nursing should the need arise. All this in the company of friends.